1 00:00:03,49 --> 00:00:05,27 The thing. 2 00:00:10,88 --> 00:00:14,81 Hello and welcome to this edition of want to wander with wonder account executive 3 00:00:14,85 --> 00:00:19,43 Eichler get on Lord over jelly and thank you for joining us Mr Leggett Welcome back 4 00:00:19,54 --> 00:00:21,99 thank you we are again some tape 5 00:00:22,00 --> 00:00:27,19 a second taping of twenty thirteen and it's been very busy in Montgomery County 6 00:00:27,20 --> 00:00:33,41 specially recently addressed almost seven hundred county residents in your state of 7 00:00:33,42 --> 00:00:38,78 the county speech and it was approximately forty minutes long so can you give us 8 00:00:38,79 --> 00:00:43,87 a short synopsis to get us started well first of all is to acknowledge in my 9 00:00:43,88 --> 00:00:48,58 opinion and I think for any objective analysis of this that the county 10 00:00:48,59 --> 00:00:54,66 comparatively is in much much better position in our state as it related to the 11 00:00:54,67 --> 00:00:59,95 State of the county is very good compared specially consider the challenge that 12 00:00:59,96 --> 00:01:05,33 we've had in the past the things that we've done in the county to sort of correct 13 00:01:05,34 --> 00:01:11,24 those and where we see the County heading into forseeable future so in summary the 14 00:01:11,25 --> 00:01:15,75 overall state of the care of the state of the county I think is very good you 15 00:01:15,76 --> 00:01:20,81 didn't mention that during the last six years of your tenure ask county executive 16 00:01:20,82 --> 00:01:23,50 you of whether the county house whether almost 17 00:01:23,54 --> 00:01:29,04 a perfect economic storm Yes but what does that mean well it means 18 00:01:29,05 --> 00:01:33,06 a number of things first of all we found some very difficult challenges even before 19 00:01:33,07 --> 00:01:39,62 the national recession missed that is that we were really has been far too much in 20 00:01:39,63 --> 00:01:44,24 the budgets are proud of my arrival were simply unsustainable and if you look at 21 00:01:44,25 --> 00:01:48,39 the four years prior to my arrival the last four years the previous administration 22 00:01:48,80 --> 00:01:53,32 the county budget is Coumadin only had increased by forty two percent that's an 23 00:01:53,33 --> 00:01:58,24 unsustainable number then if you look at the next four years the same budget tax 24 00:01:58,25 --> 00:02:02,60 supported budget for four years increase by zero that's 25 00:02:02,61 --> 00:02:05,77 a huge turnaround that was made possible by 26 00:02:05,78 --> 00:02:11,51 a number of things very tough decision for example we eliminated. Prosper ten 27 00:02:11,52 --> 00:02:17,80 percent of our entire workforce we reduced contributions to the parties held in 28 00:02:18,02 --> 00:02:24,75 pension contributions limited colas and Prilosec furloughed county employees were 29 00:02:24,76 --> 00:02:28,78 a number of years is an awful lot of tough things that we've done we reduce 30 00:02:28,79 --> 00:02:33,97 programs and services literally across the board now we see that those decisions 31 00:02:34,23 --> 00:02:40,47 are beginning to pay our we see that our employment rate is going up unemployment 32 00:02:40,48 --> 00:02:46,84 has gone down we see that our taxes are coming up again we see that more and more 33 00:02:46,85 --> 00:02:50,99 constructions are happening in the county and when you look at all of the 34 00:02:51,00 --> 00:02:55,47 indicators about accounting you measure them in an objective way you see 35 00:02:55,48 --> 00:03:00,97 significant improvements but to get there was not easy I used the term shared 36 00:03:01,01 --> 00:03:07,80 sacrifice meaning that the county employees gave up an awful lot meaning that they 37 00:03:07,81 --> 00:03:14,78 had to work harder with fewer people and earn less money in Maine that the county 38 00:03:14,79 --> 00:03:17,37 residents had to sacrifice they paid 39 00:03:17,38 --> 00:03:21,92 a little bit more in taxes and revenues and they all indications got 40 00:03:21,93 --> 00:03:26,56 a little bit less in service and I am willing to admit that we provided 41 00:03:26,57 --> 00:03:28,44 a little less and service and you paid 42 00:03:28,45 --> 00:03:32,80 a little bit more but those are the kinds of tough decisions and the ANA supports 43 00:03:32,81 --> 00:03:37,03 to the budget that I want people to be engaged in so that understand and respect 44 00:03:37,04 --> 00:03:41,38 that even though people may disagree with some aspects of the budget in the process 45 00:03:41,39 --> 00:03:46,73 that we've taken of the last five or six years now you did mention six goals and 46 00:03:46,74 --> 00:03:52,87 three new initiatives that you did and our. State of the county address. About the 47 00:03:52,88 --> 00:03:57,93 goals thriving economy trained and skilled workforce and Montgomery County 48 00:03:58,20 --> 00:04:03,20 affordable home ownership efficient transportation healthy communities and better 49 00:04:03,48 --> 00:04:09,89 government how it's possible to to all of that in the next few years remarkably go 50 00:04:09,90 --> 00:04:14,06 back and look at. Each one of those areas you see significant improvement already 51 00:04:14,62 --> 00:04:18,64 there's one area of course that I indicated that we have not fared as well and that 52 00:04:18,65 --> 00:04:20,31 is transportation we have 53 00:04:20,32 --> 00:04:25,25 a real real concern and that concern really engulf the entire state of Maryland 54 00:04:26,15 --> 00:04:30,86 many years ago I advocated for an increase in the state's gasoline tax and the 55 00:04:30,87 --> 00:04:32,55 reason why I indicated that was because 56 00:04:32,56 --> 00:04:38,09 a we had enormous competition from Virginia and the ability to move forward to 57 00:04:38,10 --> 00:04:42,18 resolve their transportation challenges I thought that the transportation States 58 00:04:42,19 --> 00:04:48,16 transportation trust fund would go broke I believe that it would hamper our ability 59 00:04:48,17 --> 00:04:52,26 to provide the kind of economic development at the local level and if we did not 60 00:04:52,27 --> 00:04:57,65 act sooner then those very same projects would cost much more later on well guess 61 00:04:57,66 --> 00:05:01,55 what after five or six years after fighting through all of that everything that I 62 00:05:01,56 --> 00:05:06,45 predicted has in fact happened we're doing our part here in Montgomery County but 63 00:05:06,46 --> 00:05:11,06 unfortunately we have little help and support from the state to resolve these major 64 00:05:11,07 --> 00:05:15,68 transportation challenges when I say that when I talk about I'm talking about the 65 00:05:15,72 --> 00:05:19,43 red of the purple line here between but there's 66 00:05:19,44 --> 00:05:24,55 a New Carrollton I'm talking about the cost of the transit way there will coalesce 67 00:05:24,93 --> 00:05:29,85 to seventy and talk about bus rapid transit in the county Those are three areas 68 00:05:29,86 --> 00:05:35,33 that we've must must provide some fast relief if we're not able to do that it will 69 00:05:35,34 --> 00:05:40,78 hamper the county long term in terms of our ability to provide the kind of traffic 70 00:05:41,04 --> 00:05:45,21 rich Anges that we need in order for many of those development projects to go 71 00:05:45,22 --> 00:05:50,62 forward we have three major development projects in the county that I think will be 72 00:05:50,63 --> 00:05:57,08 harp about that in white threat. In the science Cordy in the Gators were Germantown 73 00:05:57,09 --> 00:06:01,09 area and in the White Oak area if we're not able to go forward why the 74 00:06:01,10 --> 00:06:07,90 transportation really those three areas will suffer right now they are planned to 75 00:06:07,91 --> 00:06:12,60 create somewhere in the neighborhood collectively. About one hundred thousand high 76 00:06:12,61 --> 00:06:17,59 paying jobs and we simply cannot afford not to be advanced I was talking about 77 00:06:17,60 --> 00:06:21,92 transportation since way translation into that topic recently you testified and 78 00:06:21,93 --> 00:06:28,57 Apple is obviously in support of the state gas tax increase we spoke with 79 00:06:28,58 --> 00:06:32,10 spoken to with the lieutenant governor who was present at your state of the county 80 00:06:32,11 --> 00:06:35,16 address and it sounds like it's going to be quite 81 00:06:35,17 --> 00:06:38,81 a challenge in Annapolis What do you think about well it's always 82 00:06:38,82 --> 00:06:44,49 a challenge it wasn't popular when I first mentioned it five years ago it is not 83 00:06:44,50 --> 00:06:49,90 popular now but at some point you have to do the courageous thing you have to do 84 00:06:50,02 --> 00:06:55,67 the right thing and it is time for us to step forward set politics aside and do 85 00:06:55,68 --> 00:06:59,70 what is right for the entire state of Maryland we cannot continue to kick the can 86 00:06:59,71 --> 00:07:04,35 down the road and we cannot bury our head in the sand and presume that these 87 00:07:04,36 --> 00:07:09,34 problems will go away if we don't do it now we will eventually do it in my opinion 88 00:07:09,66 --> 00:07:15,00 the question is we waited too long it cost too much more in order to do it but at 89 00:07:15,01 --> 00:07:18,61 some point we will do it you might as well do it now OK we're going to take 90 00:07:18,62 --> 00:07:22,29 a short break right now and we'll be back with Montgomery County executive I get 91 00:07:22,53 --> 00:07:25,84 who is talking about the state of this county will be right back. 92 00:07:32,59 --> 00:07:37,22 If it wasn't for his doctor he whatever be here if it weren't for McGovern County 93 00:07:37,23 --> 00:07:41,71 Fire and Rescue he wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the phone call we wouldn't 94 00:07:41,72 --> 00:07:46,63 have been there if I didn't call I don't know where we would be bug armory county 95 00:07:46,64 --> 00:07:51,48 emergency responders are there when you need help at no cost to you in an emergency 96 00:07:51,49 --> 00:07:55,89 don't ever hesitate to call nine one one if you live in Montgomery County you will 97 00:07:55,90 --> 00:07:57,16 never get a billboard pay 98 00:07:57,17 --> 00:08:03,69 a dime so if you have an emergency call us we're there for you here we go we're 99 00:08:03,70 --> 00:08:10,60 going to mix and use it going again she's excited. Please don't put this on. Well 100 00:08:10,61 --> 00:08:16,67 you know over the line. Where. They are very high do they they. 101 00:08:18,27 --> 00:08:24,85 Can challenge your kids to be active and eat healthy it's OK Are they not surprised 102 00:08:25,19 --> 00:08:26,32 to see you sign 103 00:08:26,33 --> 00:08:31,68 a search week for more ideas on how you and your kids can get healthy together. 104 00:08:33,27 --> 00:08:38,49 This message brought to you by Fema fires occur most often in winter anything that 105 00:08:38,50 --> 00:08:42,51 can catch fire at least three feet from heating equipment and never use an oven 106 00:08:42,52 --> 00:08:45,59 peach your home stay in the kitchen when frying grilling 107 00:08:45,60 --> 00:08:51,70 a broiling food. When you leave the room or go to bed make sure all vents are clear 108 00:08:51,71 --> 00:08:56,17 of snow and ice to allow carbon monoxide to vent outside of your furnace heating 109 00:08:56,18 --> 00:08:57,96 system and chimney serviced each year by 110 00:08:57,97 --> 00:09:04,97 a qualified professional learnmore it. Did you know there 111 00:09:04,98 --> 00:09:08,93 are more than ten thousand county government phone numbers but there's only one 112 00:09:08,94 --> 00:09:14,70 number you need to remember for non-emergency calls three one one three one one is 113 00:09:14,71 --> 00:09:19,53 Montgomery County governments on line telephone information system need information 114 00:09:19,77 --> 00:09:22,18 have a problem or complaint trying to locate 115 00:09:22,19 --> 00:09:26,79 a county government facility call three one one the call center is open Monday 116 00:09:26,80 --> 00:09:31,35 through Friday seven am to seven pm The website is available twenty four hours 117 00:09:31,36 --> 00:09:32,41 a day seven days 118 00:09:32,42 --> 00:09:40,48 a week. You're. Welcome 119 00:09:40,49 --> 00:09:46,45 back to. My county executive I really thank you for joining us and we're talking 120 00:09:46,46 --> 00:09:51,91 about the state of the county to deliver that speech recently let's talk about the 121 00:09:51,98 --> 00:09:57,78 initiatives that you did launch on that specific day Montgomery is open for 122 00:09:57,79 --> 00:10:03,80 business what is that. Well I have said the government is open to business and we 123 00:10:03,81 --> 00:10:08,78 are open for business recognition that business is important in Montgomery County 124 00:10:09,25 --> 00:10:13,48 sustainable growth is important and we counted on the land the word sustainable 125 00:10:13,91 --> 00:10:17,58 that is the grow where we have the adequate transportation we have the 126 00:10:17,59 --> 00:10:21,79 environmental concerns that have been provided and that it provides to jobs and 127 00:10:21,80 --> 00:10:22,48 resources as 128 00:10:22,49 --> 00:10:27,08 a county that helps the entire county now one of the challenges we have going 129 00:10:27,09 --> 00:10:31,56 county is that the development process in this county I think is too complicated is 130 00:10:31,57 --> 00:10:37,35 fragmented and way way too expensive we're doing things now that I think that we 131 00:10:37,36 --> 00:10:41,57 can do much better one of the areas that we've looked at over the last few years 132 00:10:41,58 --> 00:10:45,51 and last year at least is to develop the recommendation of about sixty different 133 00:10:45,52 --> 00:10:50,66 changes that we've already started to make those changes when fully implemented 134 00:10:50,67 --> 00:10:56,52 will reduce the development process and construction by almost one year that's 135 00:10:56,53 --> 00:11:01,52 a huge reduction and what does that mean. When you have the type of production it 136 00:11:01,53 --> 00:11:08,19 means their projects proves it means their jobs come faster and means that the tax 137 00:11:08,20 --> 00:11:13,05 base grows faster because you don't have to carry constructions last longer you do 138 00:11:13,06 --> 00:11:17,81 not have to worry about some of the legal and engineering fees that you pay the 139 00:11:17,82 --> 00:11:20,98 process moves faster and so I wanted us to do 140 00:11:20,99 --> 00:11:25,86 a move that direction but that's not where we end because I believe there are some 141 00:11:25,87 --> 00:11:30,57 major challenges that are still out there not so much with county government but 142 00:11:30,58 --> 00:11:35,72 with many of the outside agencies for example we have three separate transportation 143 00:11:35,73 --> 00:11:41,12 reviews three separate environmental reviews I think that when you look at that 144 00:11:41,13 --> 00:11:46,92 process that's somewhat redundant costly and things that we can eliminate But what 145 00:11:46,93 --> 00:11:52,94 happens when you approach this everyone began to become somewhat parochial that is 146 00:11:52,95 --> 00:11:58,36 to say to provide sort of turf protection and not want to give up certain things 147 00:11:58,61 --> 00:12:02,47 and I think that's wrong we have to come back to the table and say we can reduce 148 00:12:02,48 --> 00:12:07,44 some of the cost some of the complexity and redundancy in this process you that's 149 00:12:07,45 --> 00:12:11,01 the one that's number one other so we're going to go down the line you didn't 150 00:12:11,02 --> 00:12:14,73 mention obviously after the twenty ten census Monterey County is 151 00:12:14,93 --> 00:12:20,74 a minority majority County and the diversity of the county is just incredible 152 00:12:21,40 --> 00:12:26,32 anguish and I want undermanned especially for adults making sure that people that 153 00:12:26,33 --> 00:12:31,49 want to learn English in the county that they do have access to those resources how 154 00:12:31,50 --> 00:12:34,63 is that going to be physically implemented but first of all there is 155 00:12:34,64 --> 00:12:38,98 a myth out there that some people especially those who speak Spanish do not want to 156 00:12:38,99 --> 00:12:43,14 assimilate and do not want to speak English that's not the experience that I've 157 00:12:43,15 --> 00:12:46,35 seen they are looking for help and support we have 158 00:12:46,36 --> 00:12:51,100 a very strong language network of volunteers and supporters in the county there are 159 00:12:52,01 --> 00:12:56,08 available to help people who want to speak English and the reason that is so is 160 00:12:56,09 --> 00:12:59,41 because we believe strongly that as you speak English it provides. You were 161 00:12:59,42 --> 00:13:04,50 a better ability to communicate better ability to get better jobs that it has is 162 00:13:04,54 --> 00:13:10,30 our tax base it has been shown that for every one dollar that you invest in helping 163 00:13:10,31 --> 00:13:14,85 those to learn English it produces four dollars or three and 164 00:13:14,86 --> 00:13:19,04 a half dollars in return and so it's an investment for us that everyone is able to 165 00:13:19,05 --> 00:13:21,12 communicate effectively so that they can be 166 00:13:21,13 --> 00:13:24,19 a part of this local economy help their kids in schools in 167 00:13:24,20 --> 00:13:28,80 a number of other things and so we want to push that forward but this idea notion 168 00:13:28,81 --> 00:13:32,85 that people do not want to learn English in their preferred is simply speak their 169 00:13:32,86 --> 00:13:37,69 native language is not borne out by the long waiting lists of people who are simply 170 00:13:37,70 --> 00:13:41,91 in line trying to get into these courses through our volunteer network and through 171 00:13:41,92 --> 00:13:45,85 the support of some of the organization that we've supported We want to reduce or 172 00:13:45,86 --> 00:13:50,46 eliminate in time many of those waiting lists and get that productivity that I 173 00:13:50,47 --> 00:13:54,16 think comes with people who are speaking this in doing so in 174 00:13:54,17 --> 00:13:58,62 a way that makes it very productive for the entire Joe let me just start going back 175 00:13:58,63 --> 00:14:02,62 on that just gave an example recently we did promote their English classes as 176 00:14:02,63 --> 00:14:07,18 a Second Language on our counties faddish land which radio show and the classes 177 00:14:07,19 --> 00:14:09,69 were automatic and felt they really had to turn back 178 00:14:09,96 --> 00:14:15,03 a few people that could have been taking the classes that all Christan or so that's 179 00:14:15,04 --> 00:14:19,49 just one example of what's going on out there third initiative the partnership for 180 00:14:19,50 --> 00:14:24,74 educational achievement basically to make sure to help expand educational 181 00:14:24,75 --> 00:14:29,45 opportunities for all students among our county especially those that are under 182 00:14:29,58 --> 00:14:36,28 performing and expanding obviously excel beyond the bell to all middle schools in 183 00:14:36,29 --> 00:14:41,27 the county that's number three right yes if you look at the county we have one 184 00:14:41,28 --> 00:14:43,07 hundred fifty thousand students 185 00:14:43,39 --> 00:14:48,53 a very law school system and if you look at all indicators the Mogami County Public 186 00:14:48,54 --> 00:14:49,33 School System for 187 00:14:49,34 --> 00:14:54,100 a lot system virtually our performs any one in the entire country it means that we 188 00:14:55,01 --> 00:15:00,88 have done a very good job for most students in our system unfortunately. There are 189 00:15:00,89 --> 00:15:02,08 a number of students that are on 190 00:15:02,09 --> 00:15:06,53 a performance and there is an achievement gap that we need to close and how do you 191 00:15:06,54 --> 00:15:11,71 do that but we have to work much more corroborative with our school system to be 192 00:15:11,72 --> 00:15:15,84 a better partnership there are things that we are doing now to help the system but 193 00:15:15,85 --> 00:15:20,55 I think that we can do more and that is by providing the programs and services that 194 00:15:20,56 --> 00:15:24,58 reduces the conflict and the challenges that many of the school system have 195 00:15:24,59 --> 00:15:29,07 a student who are not able to perform students who are struggling at home students 196 00:15:29,08 --> 00:15:31,36 who have challenges in their communities and 197 00:15:31,62 --> 00:15:36,04 a variety of areas simply are not well for paired to come to school and to gauge in 198 00:15:36,05 --> 00:15:40,07 a rigorous competitive kind of process so we want to reduce that much of that 199 00:15:40,08 --> 00:15:45,24 stress so excel beyond the bell provide some relief after school enrichment 200 00:15:45,25 --> 00:15:50,09 programs for kids are not coming home to into homes and get in trouble between four 201 00:15:50,10 --> 00:15:54,14 and seven in the evening when there are no parents there they provide some Richmond 202 00:15:54,15 --> 00:15:57,39 program so they can get engaged in out the medics and cook in 203 00:15:57,62 --> 00:16:02,43 a variety of other skills we have the model that is out there that I think works 204 00:16:02,44 --> 00:16:03,61 very well we have 205 00:16:03,62 --> 00:16:07,47 a kinetic cluster model of the looks at some of the family problems and pressures 206 00:16:07,74 --> 00:16:08,00 we have 207 00:16:08,01 --> 00:16:12,10 a variety of programs and services that are there what we need to do is to enhance 208 00:16:12,11 --> 00:16:14,81 those programs and expand them in such 209 00:16:14,82 --> 00:16:19,75 a way that we can get to more of those milk kids middle school kids and the program 210 00:16:19,76 --> 00:16:24,27 the knish of the live advances that we will try to fund we're period of time 211 00:16:24,59 --> 00:16:28,71 a methodology so that we can reduce the long waiting lists for these very popular 212 00:16:28,72 --> 00:16:33,67 programs that in my opinion will help reduce that it Chiba gap that we see in our 213 00:16:33,68 --> 00:16:38,38 system and I say this to you know effects that reckoning for excel beyond about 214 00:16:38,39 --> 00:16:39,12 they provide 215 00:16:39,38 --> 00:16:43,35 a safety preparation for students I'm not sure that think there are some of that in 216 00:16:43,36 --> 00:16:43,79 there and there are 217 00:16:43,80 --> 00:16:47,94 a number of other programs they provide in there as well but it's very enriching to 218 00:16:47,95 --> 00:16:52,67 students in terms of their ability to learn throughout the process and some during 219 00:16:52,68 --> 00:16:59,02 the summer months as well and that reduces that gap that I've talked about so there 220 00:16:59,03 --> 00:17:03,22 are number of things that. To enrich the students both in terms of consuming their 221 00:17:03,23 --> 00:17:07,17 time with wholesome activities in the afternoon as well as help and there was some 222 00:17:07,18 --> 00:17:11,39 of the rigor was challenged to him in terms of academic performance All right we're 223 00:17:11,40 --> 00:17:11,81 going to take 224 00:17:11,82 --> 00:17:14,75 a short break and when we come back we're going to talk about that one budget that 225 00:17:14,76 --> 00:17:20,15 you're getting ready to submit on March fifteenth to county council Don't go away 226 00:17:20,19 --> 00:17:25,51 we'll be right back with Margaret county executive like like. If you're. 227 00:17:30,53 --> 00:17:34,17 Counting on one one I guess. If you ever have 228 00:17:34,18 --> 00:17:38,66 a you'll be glad you're in Montgomery County thanks to the ambulance transport law 229 00:17:38,71 --> 00:17:44,34 the county has more money to cut response times by new ambulances and fire engines 230 00:17:44,51 --> 00:17:48,90 and hire more paramedics and firefighters in an emergency don't ever hesitate to 231 00:17:48,91 --> 00:17:52,78 call nine one one if you live in Montgomery County you will never get 232 00:17:52,79 --> 00:17:53,80 a bill or pay 233 00:17:53,81 --> 00:17:58,14 a dime Hopefully you'll never need to call Montgomery County Fire and Rescue But if 234 00:17:58,15 --> 00:18:03,56 you do we're there for you so the new here but I've noticed 235 00:18:03,57 --> 00:18:07,85 a trend my human does this funny thing where she goes around and gets all my toys 236 00:18:08,33 --> 00:18:12,04 and then she hides them in the basket by the door you know but it's always the same 237 00:18:12,05 --> 00:18:17,76 basket and it's in the same place and then she acts so surprised when I find them 238 00:18:18,32 --> 00:18:23,75 but you know she's put them in the same basket again it's like oh this is where you 239 00:18:23,76 --> 00:18:30,70 put the last time you were the worst I can go see. Are 240 00:18:30,71 --> 00:18:33,54 you sure they can recycle this clamshell they don't bother me with 241 00:18:33,55 --> 00:18:37,48 a very well it's hard to make a new start maybe I'll be of my carpet and 242 00:18:37,49 --> 00:18:43,88 a big for me and I get to leave the White House. Now you can recycle more plastics 243 00:18:43,89 --> 00:18:45,83 in the gummy County including number one P.T. 244 00:18:45,84 --> 00:18:52,39 Plastics such as clamshells deli containers trays lids domes and cuffs where the 245 00:18:52,40 --> 00:18:53,95 information on recycling contact them 246 00:18:53,96 --> 00:18:57,79 a dummy County Maryland division of solid waste services that re one one The wait 247 00:18:57,80 --> 00:19:00,01 is over recycle more plastics today. 248 00:19:18,100 --> 00:19:19,22 There's 249 00:19:19,23 --> 00:19:23,84 a reason why every law enforcement forcing the best reading in traffic safety laws 250 00:19:24,30 --> 00:19:29,35 and preventing killer but that's dream Gretchen's be alert be street smart. 251 00:19:32,60 --> 00:19:39,57 You're. Welcome back to the very last segment 252 00:19:39,58 --> 00:19:42,84 of wanna wanna with Montgomery County like I'm more of 253 00:19:42,85 --> 00:19:46,98 a Julie thank you for joining us and we were talking about the state of the county 254 00:19:46,99 --> 00:19:52,51 address for those of you who missed the speech let us tell you that it is actually 255 00:19:52,77 --> 00:19:57,74 a P.D.F. Format on the county's Web site and also you can watch the video so do 256 00:19:57,75 --> 00:20:02,67 a log on to Montgomery County and dug up so that you can get the state of the 257 00:20:02,68 --> 00:20:07,65 county address from the county executive. Transition into the budget you've been 258 00:20:07,66 --> 00:20:12,99 working on it for the last few months Amien Budget been working on me. That's 259 00:20:13,00 --> 00:20:16,23 a good way to put it and it's good you say you're still happy even though you're 260 00:20:16,24 --> 00:20:21,54 dealing with this this budget that is they're working on you. What are the 261 00:20:21,55 --> 00:20:27,04 expectations that we know we spoke and about about it before but there are other 262 00:20:27,17 --> 00:20:32,65 factors involved perhaps some paying. Craze for county employees and union 263 00:20:32,66 --> 00:20:38,74 employees sequestration from the federal government so the challenges have evolved 264 00:20:38,78 --> 00:20:44,01 since we first spoke about it let's look at the broader picture first on one hand 265 00:20:44,02 --> 00:20:48,01 we have the federal government engaged in the continuation of the budget challenges 266 00:20:48,45 --> 00:20:49,43 that provides 267 00:20:49,44 --> 00:20:55,46 a level of uncertainty and potentially very drastic budget because now this comes 268 00:20:55,47 --> 00:20:55,57 at 269 00:20:55,58 --> 00:21:00,98 a time when we are now beginning to emerge from the challenges of the national recession 270 00:21:00,99 --> 00:21:05,66 and recovery County and out there we've taken some very very tough but correct 271 00:21:05,67 --> 00:21:10,80 decisions over the last few years and so it's an irony that we have these sort of 272 00:21:10,81 --> 00:21:14,98 conflict in things that are happening but when you look at the budget today the 273 00:21:14,99 --> 00:21:20,26 budget that I had basically followed the following approach that is to make modest 274 00:21:20,27 --> 00:21:25,18 adjustments as we come out of the recession and I go too far there's one area in 275 00:21:25,19 --> 00:21:29,52 which we are looking very seriously and terms of negotiations that we are making 276 00:21:29,53 --> 00:21:33,44 somewhat of increase and I think people need to understand that the headlines have 277 00:21:33,45 --> 00:21:37,23 been proper about like thirteen percent increase No that's not one year it's 278 00:21:37,69 --> 00:21:38,67 thirteen percent over 279 00:21:38,68 --> 00:21:43,08 a couple of years so Secondly you have to keep in mind that we eliminated the 280 00:21:43,09 --> 00:21:47,60 basically put pay scale that calls for the normal step increases for seniority that 281 00:21:47,61 --> 00:21:52,81 has been simply reinstated in and will provide in an annual basis at least for F Y 282 00:21:52,82 --> 00:21:53,61 fourteen about 283 00:21:53,62 --> 00:21:57,96 a two point nine percent COLA cost of living adjustment and why is that the case 284 00:21:58,21 --> 00:22:02,57 first of all. If you look at what we've done in the last few years for four years 285 00:22:03,06 --> 00:22:07,75 we have not provided cost of living adjustment for employees we eliminated the step 286 00:22:07,79 --> 00:22:12,75 or the salary scales are provided for longevity we increased their cost for health 287 00:22:12,76 --> 00:22:18,32 care and retirement benefit we eliminated ten percent of the entire workforce so 288 00:22:18,33 --> 00:22:20,71 they're working longer and hearted and so forth as 289 00:22:20,72 --> 00:22:24,98 a result of that all of those things over a period of time places us in 290 00:22:24,99 --> 00:22:28,81 a very very difficult position in terms of our counting bodies compared to others 291 00:22:28,82 --> 00:22:33,21 in the area so currently as you go through the collective bargain process you will 292 00:22:33,22 --> 00:22:37,80 see for example that the school system provided raises for their employees which we 293 00:22:37,81 --> 00:22:41,79 had nothing to do with Prince George's County through their police and I think 294 00:22:41,80 --> 00:22:46,84 their fire personnel got raises that for one year cumulative going back to probably 295 00:22:46,85 --> 00:22:51,80 about as high as twelve percent right now the state of Maryland is providing 296 00:22:51,81 --> 00:22:52,53 basically about 297 00:22:52,54 --> 00:22:57,23 a six percent increase if you include the seniority or the step of the merit 298 00:22:57,24 --> 00:23:00,51 increases accordingly they've got a three percent increase plus 299 00:23:00,52 --> 00:23:04,86 a step or merit increase so when you look at the collective bargaining process I 300 00:23:04,87 --> 00:23:08,45 don't think that there was any way that the county could have prevailed on the law 301 00:23:09,02 --> 00:23:14,56 provide in less than what we provided the options were much higher there are some 302 00:23:14,57 --> 00:23:18,33 legal opinions out there there were challenged what I've done in the past that is 303 00:23:18,34 --> 00:23:23,42 to walk away from collective bargain process we were lost in my opinion arbitrated 304 00:23:23,43 --> 00:23:27,18 decision and therefore I think we would have been paying two or three times more 305 00:23:27,19 --> 00:23:31,01 than what we what we are doing now so you have to look at that in that context and 306 00:23:31,02 --> 00:23:35,97 watch you do a fair and objective basis I think that what we provided is really 307 00:23:36,01 --> 00:23:42,70 a very sound basis for the city now regarding this pay raises and here is what Phil 308 00:23:42,71 --> 00:23:46,22 Anderson council member has to say and I want to quote this he says it's not 309 00:23:46,23 --> 00:23:50,87 sustainable and would create over forty million dollars in the next two years that 310 00:23:50,88 --> 00:23:56,14 would compete with important services Well that's the obvious they're always in it 311 00:23:56,15 --> 00:23:59,44 and if you see that you may compete with important provide services. Add in 312 00:23:59,45 --> 00:24:04,20 a salary increase for employees who deliver those services so that's sort of 313 00:24:04,24 --> 00:24:09,14 ridiculous to make that kind of statement Secondly if you look at the options that 314 00:24:09,41 --> 00:24:13,54 follow his advice probably paying two or three times more than we have on the table 315 00:24:13,88 --> 00:24:18,50 thirdly I think that he's failed to look at any advanced in his arguments the very 316 00:24:18,55 --> 00:24:19,92 tough decisions that I've made 317 00:24:19,93 --> 00:24:23,46 a decision that I've been on President and that is for County Executive to 318 00:24:23,47 --> 00:24:25,13 literally walk away in 319 00:24:25,14 --> 00:24:30,20 a legal battle to take its own unions to court and not respond to an arbitrator 320 00:24:30,21 --> 00:24:33,98 decision I think that demonstrates very carefully that we've managed to budget very 321 00:24:33,99 --> 00:24:38,66 well we had some very difficult challenges that relates to collective bargain there 322 00:24:38,67 --> 00:24:42,47 are many times when the people in the labor unions have been fighting me about all 323 00:24:42,48 --> 00:24:48,13 of this demonstrations at my house at my office really outraged about the decision 324 00:24:48,14 --> 00:24:52,21 that we made there was the right decision and we followed his advice and go through 325 00:24:52,22 --> 00:24:56,70 this and did less than that and go through the arbitrated process end up in court 326 00:24:57,00 --> 00:25:01,06 my opinion is that we would be paying three to four times more than what we've 327 00:25:01,07 --> 00:25:05,81 provided so I think you need to look at that and evaluate what he's saying rather 328 00:25:05,82 --> 00:25:07,15 than to respond to this in 329 00:25:07,16 --> 00:25:11,36 a way without the kind of substance that I think this analysis should provide And 330 00:25:11,37 --> 00:25:16,62 by the way as I've seen that he is the only person listen elective office around 331 00:25:16,63 --> 00:25:20,51 here have advocated those kinds of positions no one else that I know of so there's 332 00:25:20,52 --> 00:25:20,79 just 333 00:25:20,80 --> 00:25:25,45 a deaf because I think they're looking at it much fairer. Let's let's circle back 334 00:25:25,46 --> 00:25:31,03 to the federal sequestration yourself executive Baker from Prince George's County 335 00:25:31,04 --> 00:25:36,56 an executive order from Howard County urged Congress to act immediately the list of 336 00:25:36,71 --> 00:25:41,33 the end pact in this region would it's enormous but specifically from Montgomery 337 00:25:41,34 --> 00:25:46,63 County what it would see immediately Well first of all we have forty seven thousand 338 00:25:46,64 --> 00:25:52,71 federal employees McGovern county and if they are forced to take unpaid leave they 339 00:25:52,72 --> 00:25:59,06 could rise to high as twenty days per year each day in Montgomery County in terms 340 00:25:59,07 --> 00:26:04,25 of its impact on our tax revenue the income tax revenues will cost my government 341 00:26:04,26 --> 00:26:06,33 county about a half a million dollars 342 00:26:06,37 --> 00:26:10,12 a day so potentially that's ten million dollars to county government right there 343 00:26:10,35 --> 00:26:10,80 but there's 344 00:26:10,81 --> 00:26:15,57 a ripple effect of all the programs and services from housing school there over the 345 00:26:15,58 --> 00:26:16,88 period of time you would see 346 00:26:16,89 --> 00:26:22,37 a huge downturn there would have effect our economy not just federal employees and 347 00:26:22,38 --> 00:26:26,42 people who work for federal contractors but from restaurant owners car runners 348 00:26:26,60 --> 00:26:31,63 hotel motels you name it all would be adversely affected all of it does not start 349 00:26:31,64 --> 00:26:36,41 on general March the first but some of it has already started in there will 350 00:26:36,42 --> 00:26:37,75 continue to build up will have 351 00:26:37,76 --> 00:26:41,26 a devastating impact among them because we have just 352 00:26:41,27 --> 00:26:46,96 a few seconds left of the show very briefly control recently Lieutenant Governor 353 00:26:46,97 --> 00:26:49,51 Anthony Brown was here in the county it was 354 00:26:49,52 --> 00:26:53,70 a public forum just for county residents to talk about the measures that are taking 355 00:26:53,71 --> 00:26:55,67 up in Annapolis and I would say there was 356 00:26:55,68 --> 00:26:59,72 a lot of discontent with what's going on in Annapolis from an army County residents 357 00:26:59,73 --> 00:27:03,98 against it well I think that people need to recognize we're talking we're not 358 00:27:03,99 --> 00:27:07,87 talking about gun control we're talking about gun registration which is far 359 00:27:07,88 --> 00:27:13,16 different I served in the military sort of than the infantry I know the use of 360 00:27:13,17 --> 00:27:17,57 weapons and I understand that and I fully support the Second Amendment but in my 361 00:27:17,58 --> 00:27:21,70 opinion to have an unlimited ability to go out inversely buy any kind of assault 362 00:27:21,71 --> 00:27:27,07 weapon that you want. Did rounds that basically rounds not necessarily for hunting 363 00:27:27,08 --> 00:27:32,15 and target shooting but literally to maim and kill to me is unacceptable Mr Leggett 364 00:27:32,16 --> 00:27:37,05 thank you for joining us again today will see you next month and reminding you for 365 00:27:37,06 --> 00:27:40,69 any information regarding Montgomery County always visit our website on our my 366 00:27:40,70 --> 00:27:44,27 county Indy dot gov. And thank you for watching.